MORNING MANNA            11-2-21

RELIGION OR RELATIONSHIP?

“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”– Rev. 316

The famous British music conductor, Sir Thomas Beecham, didn’t particularly care for the music of composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. Charged with conducting a Williams symphony, Beecham found himself completely bored during rehearsals. At one point, he began mindlessly beating time while his mind went elsewhere.

Once he noticed the orchestra had stopped playing, he asked the first violinist, “Why aren’t you playing?” to which he replied, “It’s finished, Sir Thomas.”

Beecham looked down at his score. Embarrassed, he sighed, “So it is.”

Many times in the Christian life, it can be easy to simply ‘go through the motions.’ You go to church, you pray, you read your Bible a few times a week, and you’re left thinking, “Is that it?”

But the answer is “No.” That’s not it! In fact, God has so much more for you in the Christian life than simply a list full of tasks you need to complete. He wants you to have a deep, intimate faith relationship with Him!

Instead of living a task-focused Christian life, which will inevitably lead to boredom, focus your faith on having a vibrant faith relationship with your Savior. When you go from religion to relationship, you’ll experience joy and excitement in your spiritual life!

Pray and ask God to show you what it means to focus your faith on relationship with Jesus instead of on a list of ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts.’ – Copied

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

MORNING MANNA          11-1-21

WHAT WILL YOU DO?
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”– 1 Cor. 3:11-14

The most wonderful day of your life is the day you trust Christ as your Lord and Savior. The results of that are amazing! When you receive Christ—-– you become a new creature.– God becomes your Father.– Christ becomes your elder Brother.– The Holy Spirit becomes your Helper.– Heaven becomes your home.– The Bible is your guide book.– The Great Commission becomes your work.– The world becomes your mission field.And the list goes on and on!

If you are a Christian that is wonderful. The question is, “What kind of Christian will you be?”. I can tell you that you will never be perfect while on earth. But I can also tell you that you ought to be progressing in that direction all the days of your life. You ought to be busy about the Master’s business. So what kind of Christian will you be? What are you going to be doing?

This is the subject being addressed in our text. You are on the Foundation, but what will you build on it? Here’s some advice – Be a laborer rather than a loafer. God has given to every person their work to do and we have a limited amount of time to do it. As Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” ( John 9:4).

Our text speaks for itself – don’t waste your life on things that won’t last. Get busy doing those things that please God and provide you with a reward in heaven. – HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

MORNING MANNA          10-31-21

WHAT WILL YOU DO?
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”– 1 Cor. 3:11-14

The most wonderful day of your life is the day you trust Christ as your Lord and Savior. The results of that are amazing! When you receive Christ- – you become a new creature.– God becomes your Father.– Christ becomes your elder Brother.– The Holy Spirit becomes your Helper.– Heaven rejoices.– The Great Commission becomes your work.– The world becomes your mission field.And the list goes on and on!

If you are a Christian that is wonderful. The question is, “What kind of Christian will you be?”. I can tell you that you will never be perfect while on earth. But I can also tell you that you ought to be progressing in that direction all the days of your life. You ought to be busy about the Master’s business. So what kind of Christian will you be? What are you going to be doing?

This is the subject being addressed in our text. You are on the Foundation, but what will you build on it? Here’s some advice – Be a laborer rather than a loafer. God has given to every person their work to do and we have a limited amount of time to do it. As Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” ( John 9:4).

Our text speaks for itself – don’t waste your life on things that won’t last. Get busy doing those things that please God and provide you with a reward in heaven. – HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

MORNING MANNA          10-30-21

GAZING OR GOING?

“Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven”– Acts 1:11

Five times in this first chapter of Acts the literal visibility of Christ’s ascension is emphasized. There is nothing figurative or symbolic about the language here.

The ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven was personal and visible. His return, the angels declare, will be in like manner.

But why the question from the angels? It seems obvious that the supernatural spectacle of Jesus rising into heaven and disappeared into a glorious cloud would leave anyone standing and gaping in wonder.

But then the angels make this sobering, encouraging announcement: Jesus is coming back! Although the disciples stood gazing in a sweet, love-struck heart sickness at the departure of Christ, they can’t stay there. Now that Jesus is gone, and because he promises to return, the earth—not the sky—must be the focus of their gaze and their labors.

The same admonition is good for us today, isn’t it? While we look by faith toward heaven, we must for now focus our labors upon earth. We have work to do, in expectation of our Savior’s return.

Jesus is returning soon. Every eye will see him and every knee will bow to him. But the important question is how will  you see him when he comes? Will you see him as ruler and judge, or as redeemer and savior? – Baptist Bible Hour

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

MORNING MANNA           10-29-21

THE DANGER OF DISTRACTIONS

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”- Matt. 6:19-21

“ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”– Matt. 6:24

Yesterday’s message was about redeeming the time – something we should do all the time. With every tick of the clock we have less time than before. Time is swiftly passing and we can’t stop it. All we can do is spend it wisely. But, although we know what we ought to do and even resolve to do it, doing it can be difficult. It’s difficult because we are always dodging distractions.

It might be the distraction of substituting the good for the best. In such cases as that we allow sinless things to become sinful. because they distract us from what God would have us to do.

Or it might be the distraction of seeking to gratify the flesh – pleasing self rather than God. It might be an obsession with sports, entertainment, hobbies, or numerous other things, all of which destroys our usefulness to the kingdom of God.

Or it might be the distraction of stress and our failure to handle it. Many are sitting on the sidelines because of worry about the condition of our country, politics, health, domestic difficulties, crime, natural disasters, etc. And every day the news feeds their fears and diverts their attention away from where it should be.

Keeping our focus where it should be is a constant struggle, but it’s worth the effort. We can’t afford to just rush through life without giving thought to what we should be doing. To avoid wasting our lives we must fix our focus on what matters most – and that’s already been defined for us in the Word of God. We are to do all for the glory of God and obey the commands of God. That results in us laying up treasures in heaven.

God alone gives us time, but we decide what we will do with it. Everyday is an opportunity for us to lay up treasures in heaven and we should show our gratitude to God by doing those things that really matter. So what will you do today? – HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346